Posted: 2/19/2010 8:46:27 AM EDT
|
Wondering about these three items, have read extensive eham reviews and just thought I would gather any final information I could before I spend my tax check. Thanx
MFJ-993b LDG-AT200 pro (trying to decide between the two) Diamond sx-200 (seems like one of the better swr meters still made for qrp work) |
|
Quoted:
Wondering about these three items, have read extensive eham reviews and just thought I would gather any final information I could before I spend my tax check. Thanx MFJ-993b LDG-AT200 pro (trying to decide between the two) Diamond sx-200 (seems like one of the better swr meters still made for qrp work) I've only had problems with one LDG product, a like new AT-1000 from a friend. It worked great on 80 and 20 meters, but it would not start a tune on 40 meters. It would give needle swings indicating high SWR, too high to tune. However I was easily able to blip the C up and down buttons (L to minimum) and get a satisfactory tune. An analyzer showed that at no place in the 40 meter band was my antenna over 3:1. Also, once I had tuned it manually, the tuner would not save the setting. Even though this is an older model, and I did not buy it new, LDG fixed it at no charge, and replaced both the SWR bridge board AND the main board. It is essentially all new now. And it works as it should on 40 meters. Other tuners from LDG, the IT-100 and AT-897. Those work perfectly. I just keep hearing of too many problems with MFJ tuners. The Diamond, I have no experience. |
| Man I have read almost every review I can find on the LDG-AT100 and the MFJ-993B, it really seems like a toss up. My main concern is that I won't know if either of them aren't working because this whole 10 meter band will be my very first exposure to HF. I guess I will get which ever one is in stock in the morning. Seems like the freq display and the meter on the MFJ would be nice additions? |
|
My experience with LDG tuners is all good. I own an AT-100Pro and have used a AT-200 at field day. The AT-100pro has been in use for over 5 years and has never fail to tune an antenna. I have used it from 6 meters thru 160 meters.
I have seen many Mfj products that have not performed a expected. Diamond products are trustworthy from what I have seen. |
|
I must be the odd man out (wouldn't be the first time).
My first tuner was an LDG AT-7000. I found out it was lying to me, claiming to have tuned my antenna to an SWR of 1.5 or better when in fact the SWR was over 2. This happened on more than one frequency and on more than one band. Granted my antenna is a ~275 foot delta loop at only about 20 feet off the ground, but it's not like I was trying to tune a bed spring or something crazy. I e-mailed Dwayne of LDG on a Sunday night regarding what I was seeing and got a response within 45 minutes (!). Unfortunately Dwayne felt the tuner was behaving as designed  .
I too was aware of MFJ's reputation, having bought one of their antenna analyzers and noted that the soldering appeared to have been done by a 12 year old. I ended-up with an MFJ-929 however that has been absolutely fantastic. It tunes over a much broader range than the AT-7000 and can tune to <= 1.5 on pretty much any frequency. It even tunes my antenna on the 160m band which the LDG could not. So far it's been completely reliable. Go figure! |
|
SGC SG-230 http://www.sgcworld.com/230ProductPage.html Buy once, cry once... |
|
Quoted:
I must be the odd man out (wouldn't be the first time). My first tuner was an LDG AT-7000. I found out it was lying to me, claiming to have tuned my antenna to an SWR of 1.5 or better when in fact the SWR was over 2. This happened on more than one frequency and on more than one band. Granted my antenna is a ~275 foot delta loop at only about 20 feet off the ground, but it's not like I was trying to tune a bed spring or something crazy. I e-mailed Dwayne of LDG on a Sunday night regarding what I was seeing and got a response within 45 minutes (!). Unfortunately Dwayne felt the tuner was behaving as designed .
I too was aware of MFJ's reputation, having bought one of their antenna analyzers and noted that the soldering appeared to have been done by a 12 year old. I ended-up with an MFJ-929 however that has been absolutely fantastic. It tunes over a much broader range than the AT-7000 and can tune to <= 1.5 on pretty much any frequency. It even tunes my antenna on the 160m band which the LDG could not. So far it's been completely reliable. Go figure! LDG gear seems to be gear that if you keep sending it in, they can make work right, but that out of the box is a gamble. Have been told that MFJ meets its price-points by using a fair amount of unconventional labor (sheltered labor, and prison labor). I never had the guts to ask Martin when I met him, so that may be hearsay. Labor source aside the MFJ family of product lines is price-point driven, has variable quality and certainly can never be called "overbuilt" by any means. I too lik the SGC tuners, and personally am using a Palstar. As for meters there are a lot of interesting choices out there. 73 Steve K9ZW |
|
Power/SWR meter, I had no idea what to buy, asked a couple of guys on a net I frequent. I was highly recommended the Daiwa CN-810 HP.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/meters/2140.html This Power/SWR meter has both peak and average reading, and three ranges, 0-20 Watts, 0-200 Watts, and 0-2000 watts. This is far better than the 0-10, 0-100, etc as it puts most of my readings in the middle of the scale, instead of at the top. Transceiver turned to 10 watts for checking SWR, in the middle of the scale. Transceiver at 100 watts, again, in the middle of the scale. My 800 Watt amplifier, just below middle of the scale. A full legal limt, about 3/4 of the 2000 Watt scale. So that is a good meter range for my purposes. The meter seems to be well made, rugged, and even though I've dumped 800 watts into it when set on the wrong power range it still hasn't hurt a thing. I try to not make a habit of it, but it happens. Anyway, it came highly recommended by more than a few other hams, and it is working well for me. |
|
Quoted: Quoted: I must be the odd man out (wouldn't be the first time). My first tuner was an LDG AT-7000. I found out it was lying to me, claiming to have tuned my antenna to an SWR of 1.5 or better when in fact the SWR was over 2. This happened on more than one frequency and on more than one band. Granted my antenna is a ~275 foot delta loop at only about 20 feet off the ground, but it's not like I was trying to tune a bed spring or something crazy. I e-mailed Dwayne of LDG on a Sunday night regarding what I was seeing and got a response within 45 minutes (!). Unfortunately Dwayne felt the tuner was behaving as designed .I too was aware of MFJ's reputation, having bought one of their antenna analyzers and noted that the soldering appeared to have been done by a 12 year old. I ended-up with an MFJ-929 however that has been absolutely fantastic. It tunes over a much broader range than the AT-7000 and can tune to <= 1.5 on pretty much any frequency. It even tunes my antenna on the 160m band which the LDG could not. So far it's been completely reliable. Go figure! LDG gear seems to be gear that if you keep sending it in, they can make work right, but that out of the box is a gamble. Have been told that MFJ meets its price-points by using a fair amount of unconventional labor (sheltered labor, and prison labor). I never had the guts to ask Martin when I met him, so that may be hearsay. Labor source aside the MFJ family of product lines is price-point driven, has variable quality and certainly can never be called "overbuilt" by any means. I too lik the SGC tuners, and personally am using a Palstar. As for meters there are a lot of interesting choices out there. 73 Steve K9ZW Great minds think alike! I have the balanced line Palstar tuner for my home station, and use the SGC SG-230 for portable station set-up. Right now I'm working away from home, so I have my go-box set up in my RV using the SGC on a 2 turn triangle loop using 80' of 12 guage. Works like a charm. |